‘A PARTY FOR MALAYSIANS’
DAP has had members from all races since inception in 1966, says Lim
DAP wants to be seen as a political party for all Malaysians instead of as a non-Malay or a Chinese-based party.
Its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, said since its inception in 1966, the party had welcomed leaders and members from various races.
“In DAP’s fold, we have Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Dayaks, Orang Asli leaders and members.
“We have members from all races since our inception in 1966. Our elected representatives include Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans and Kadazans. We are a truly Malaysian party,” he said at the opening of the DAP National Conference here yesterday.
Present were DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya.
A total of 969 delegates and 188 observers were at the conference.
One of the conference’s main agenda was to amend the party’s constitution, and the DAP central executive committee will table a New Malaysia Declaration.
Lim said the electoral strength of Pakatan Harapan was winning in mixed seats.
“Each PH party needs to serve all Malaysians in their constituencies and in the country.
“DAP has to be seen as genuinely solving the concerns of ordinary Malays, just as Bersatu, Amanah and PKR need to be seen as genuinely concerned about ordinary non-Malays.
“All of us need to see beyond the peninsula to ensure a truly Malaysian vision.”
He said PH needed to put in a new framework that recognised that all Malaysians had more in common than differences.
PH, he said, had a lot on its hands, including fulfilling its promises following the 14th General Election.
Lim also asked people to give PH time to resolve the country’s woes.
“As much as the public wants us to resolve problems, the state of the Malaysian economy is the result of decisions made in the last 20 or 61 years.
“No matter how hard we try, problems from 61 years ago cannot be solved in one year. Instead, we need to think ahead about the next 20 years for the 99 per cent, not the one per cent cronies, to put Malaysia back on track for the next generation,” he added.
At a press conference later, Lim said PH would stress needs-based policies to ensure people of all races were taken care of.
“We will ensure that these needs-based policies continue and nobody will be left behind. We must do better than the previous government.
“We don’t deny that the majority of Malays need help. But that doesn’t mean that there are no poor Indians and Chinese that need help.
“We need to help the poor regardless of race or we will face the consequences. There is no point of becoming the government if we don’t do the right thing.”